(September 1) - Atlanta travelers are in for a treat when a new age of air service starts September 1: the first A380 flights to Asia from Atlanta.

 

Korean Air flight 036 will depart Atlanta Hartsfield at 1:10 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 1 and be the first A380 flight to cross the Pacific from Atlanta.  The airline will operate its A380 on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, and has a total of 10 flights from Atlanta to Asia each week.  The airline will start daily A380 service to Asia in October. 

 

"Our A380 flight is a game changer for the region," says Korean Air's Americas Marketing V.P., John Jackson.  "We now offer service to Asia from Atlanta that no one else can meet.  Our aircraft is roomier, quieter and more comfortable than any other serving the Southeast.  Our traffic between Atlanta and Seoul has been growing at 10 percent per year and it makes good sense to invest in markets that are showing longterm growth.

 

"Our A380 is configured with fewer seats than any other airline to date and has passenger amenities not offered by any other carrier," Jackson explained. "Our exclusive upstairs Prestige class, duty-free showcase, Celestial Bar and other lounges, combined with the inherent roominess of the A380 aircraft, provide our passengers with an unparalleled traveling experience."

 

Korean Air's A380 has only 407 seats: 12 luxurious Kosmo First Class suites and 301 Economy Class seats on the first level, with the upstairs featuring 94 lie-flat sleepers spaced six feet apart.

 

Korean Air's unique Duty Free Showcase has been garnering a lot of attention.  The area, at the base of the spiral staircase leading up to Prestige Class, features cosmetics, perfumes, liquor and accessories, with a dedicated cabin crew member on hand to assist and advise passengers with all their shopping needs.  Shoppers can see and touch the actual goods, then return to their seats to make their selections in privacy.

 

"Our Celestial Bar offers our premium flyers the ultimate in in-flight style and relaxation. The new lounge, at the rear of the upstairs, is a unique mix of Asian aesthetics and functionality and is equipped with a hosted bar serving a range of signature cocktails exclusively created for Korean Air," Jackson added.

 

There are actually three bars on the aircraft:  In addition to the hosted Celestial Bar, there are self-serve bars located in First Class and at the front of Prestige Class.

 

"We've established some valuable strategic partnerships with our new A380 service," Jackson says.  "The Celestial Bar is in partnership with Absolut, and our new First and Business Class amenity kits feature DAVI products, the skincare branch of the world renowned Mondavi wine family.  The upscale cosmetics are made of grape and wine extracts from California's Napa Valley, plus a variety of natural extracts."

 

Speaking of natural, Korean Air was one of the first airlines to offer organic salads and breads during flight and now offers low calorie and healthier eating options.  It also presents one of the best wine lists in flight featuring California, French and Australian vintages.

Korean Air already flies A380s to Los Angeles and New York in the United States, as well as to Hong Kong, China and Frankfurt, Germany.

 

About Korean Air

Korean Air, with a fleet of 155 aircraft, is one of the world's top 20 airlines, and operates more than 400 flights per day to 126 cities in 45 countries. It is a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance, which together with its 19 members, offers its 552 million annual passengers a worldwide system of more than 15,000 daily flights covering 993 destinations in 187 countries.

 

In 2013, Executive Traveler readers named Korean Air the best international airline overall and best international airline customer service.  In 2012, Business Traveler named Korean Air the best Asian airline for the sixth consecutive year while the China Travel Media Alliance named Korean Air "the Best Airline of the Year."  In 2011, Global Traveler awarded the airline with best airline in northern Asia and best airport staff/gate agents. The carrier has repeatedly won the Global Travel Catering Distinction award by Pax International magazine while World Traveler magazine rated it as having the world's best inflight service. Travel & Leisure magazine readers have consistently named it as one of the world's top 10 international carriers and readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine have voted Korean Air one of the world's top 10 global airlines.

 

More on Korean Air's programs, routes, frequencies and partners is available at www.koreanair.com